Friday, 31 December 2010
List & (One) More List
Once again another year is drawing to a close, and I can barely sum up what has (or has not) happened this past 365 days. (In my mind, it’s still February...) Yes, 31st December is soon upon us and with it, the celebration of a year passed. Another 12 months of living, dead or alive, 8760 hours of sleep, work, studies (for some of us at least), fun, food and all other things (crazy) people do.
Here’s a little trivia for my readers: I have never spent New Years anywhere but at home. This fact just dawned on me as I was thinking of writing up this post. And it popped up because that’s no longer true this year (Well, there’s still a day to prove me wrong, but that’s not very likely.) because I will be spending New Years approximately a 10 hour flight away from home. It’s not a terribly big change as I don’t usually go out on New Years Eve (the traffic scares me, human and normal) but it still would have been nicer to spend it closer to my friends and family. Yes, I’m sappy at the moment... Aww...
Okay, before I derail to self-pity and depression, let’s get on topic. I could still remember that around this time last year I was sitting in my blue swivel chair in my room (because I did write about the blue swivel chair, although it’s not really that comfortable a chair. I should get a new chair, but then I won’t really be using it all that much. Okay, I segwayed there [mostly] on purpose) writing up a New Years post along with a list of my 10 new year resolutions. Look it up in the archives if you wish, because I too dumb and lazy (good combination) to put a hyperlink here, or not.
So, I figured before I go on any further with talks about the future, I should revisit the list and see how my year actually fared to the optimistic list of new year resolutions. (Isn’t it funny that they are always optimistic? I guess there’s really not really a point listing depressive suggestions down unless you run a suicide hotline. [Sarcasm tag])
Well, here we go. I’ve written the resolutions in italics so it’s easier to discern the resolution from my blabber.
MonkeyJ’s 2010 New Year Resolutions
Well, that kind of sums up my year in passing in slightly different manner (in which I scored a respectable 70%). Aren’t I creative or what? So, it appears that there is merit in listing down a list of new year resolutions (instead of just being a means of self-deprecation and depression) hence I guess I have found another tradition to keep in my blog (which is the longest one I’ve kept updating so far).
In saying so, without further ado, I present my new year resolutions for 2011. (I have decided to keep it at 10 resolutions as increasing it by years seems slightly illogical. One would think there would be less to improve on as one ages. I hope.)
MonkeyJ’s 2011 New Year Resolutions
And that’s a wrap for this year. I hope the lack of posts has not turned off that many readers and to those who are still around, I wish you all a Happy New Year and let’s toast to 2011 being a spectacular year (because everything’s ending the year after next).
Side note : I won’t be able to do my yearly end-of-the-year tarot reading this year as my pack of cards is back home. I might do them when I get back (especially if I find an auspicious date or something. Maybe Lunar New Years... Maybe
Here’s a little trivia for my readers: I have never spent New Years anywhere but at home. This fact just dawned on me as I was thinking of writing up this post. And it popped up because that’s no longer true this year (Well, there’s still a day to prove me wrong, but that’s not very likely.) because I will be spending New Years approximately a 10 hour flight away from home. It’s not a terribly big change as I don’t usually go out on New Years Eve (the traffic scares me, human and normal) but it still would have been nicer to spend it closer to my friends and family. Yes, I’m sappy at the moment... Aww...
Okay, before I derail to self-pity and depression, let’s get on topic. I could still remember that around this time last year I was sitting in my blue swivel chair in my room (because I did write about the blue swivel chair, although it’s not really that comfortable a chair. I should get a new chair, but then I won’t really be using it all that much. Okay, I segwayed there [mostly] on purpose) writing up a New Years post along with a list of my 10 new year resolutions. Look it up in the archives if you wish, because I too dumb and lazy (good combination) to put a hyperlink here, or not.
So, I figured before I go on any further with talks about the future, I should revisit the list and see how my year actually fared to the optimistic list of new year resolutions. (Isn’t it funny that they are always optimistic? I guess there’s really not really a point listing depressive suggestions down unless you run a suicide hotline. [Sarcasm tag])
Well, here we go. I’ve written the resolutions in italics so it’s easier to discern the resolution from my blabber.
MonkeyJ’s 2010 New Year Resolutions
- Get part-time job – Proudly checked of the list although only accomplished towards the end of the year, but seeing as how I managed to pull in two jobs, I’m going to give myself a pass (and a silly self back pat).
- Improve living situation as best as possible – Well, did not fare too well in this one. Although I’m more detached from last year’s horribly crippling dependence, I’m still living at the same place (Damn the cheap rent!) and the new tenants just seem worse and worse (Where does my landlord find these people?). Really want a studio/unit next year, but we’ll see how it goes. Still looking, hence this resolution is still in progress.
- Maintain grades – If we were talking about grades, then accomplished but if we were to go by percentages, my results did take a pretty sharp dip last semester (I wrote up a post on it a while ago). No more 100%, sad.
- Live a little (for that’s all I foresee that I will be able to spare if I keep all the above) – Hmm, this is a tough one. By a ‘normal’ person’s standard, my life in 2010 could still be classified as rather extremely dry, but if compared to 2009’s calendar, this year was a riot. I almost wished I didn’t have that many social obligations, well, almost. Certainly helped by the arrival of a friend from college although I do take some credit for putting in effort myself.
- Write better! – I’m unsure about this one. While I feel that my posts this year (lacking and far in between) have still been dropping in terms of standards, it could also be that the general lack of post meant that some of the better inspirations (and hence writing) have unfortunately been skipped over but I’m definitely keeping this on my list for next year.
- Obtain new friends worth having – I’d like to say yes on this one. Although I did not make that many new friends this year (It should be a surprise I make any friends at all.), I am happy with the way things are at the end of last semester. I have a good (little) mix of uni/class friends and non-study-related friends that I no longer feel like that weird loner kid (well, not always at least).
- Work out a little courage – I’m actually unsure what this meant specifically when I wrote it anymore. I may have been off my rocker when I got the inspiration so I’m just going to skip over this one (although chances are I probably did not make this one).
- Just plain work out – Hmm, there was talk about some of us joining a gym at the end of the year (which did not happe) but it might be done next year. My health seems to be fine/good so far (with the exception of the whole box of chocolate candy I inhaled these past few days) so I guess this is an all-clear?
- Be more proactive and enthusiastic in my course to help with further studies prospects – This is another tough/ambiguous one. I guess what I’m doing now counts as helping with further studies prospects although I’m less deadset in me pursuing further studies. (Money, oh, money.) Having said that though, I’m still pretty willing to continue with my studies as far as I can (just that my life won’t come crashing down if it didn’t happen). And my (possible) tutoring next year will help with both causes, so yay me!
- Look out for Mr. Cupid (to tell him if he had any odd arrows, to shove it up his own) – Still looking. I guess he’s in hiding after reading what I wrote here last year. Ooo, Cupid reads my blog. Cool.
Well, that kind of sums up my year in passing in slightly different manner (in which I scored a respectable 70%). Aren’t I creative or what? So, it appears that there is merit in listing down a list of new year resolutions (instead of just being a means of self-deprecation and depression) hence I guess I have found another tradition to keep in my blog (which is the longest one I’ve kept updating so far).
In saying so, without further ado, I present my new year resolutions for 2011. (I have decided to keep it at 10 resolutions as increasing it by years seems slightly illogical. One would think there would be less to improve on as one ages. I hope.)
MonkeyJ’s 2011 New Year Resolutions
- Better manage my schedule to balance work, studies, and friends in a more sensible manner
- Maintain grades (It is my final year after all. Not the time to be dropping the ball)
- Improve living situation (Fingers crossed. Monetary support would be greatly appreciated.)
- Get cracking on post-degree opportunities, either scholarships and schools (US or UK would be awesome) or work
- Pick up the enthusiasm for my studies (and work) especially after the Time Series Analysis blow. (Not exactly the time to be demotivated)
- Improve literacy skills (Write [more and] better, read more, learn French final-freaking-ly, and speak more [stupid stutter])
- Maintain my newly made friendships (as I have a tendency to just drop of the radar) or make new friends. Either way, work on social skills
- Improve on fitness and grow taller (It’s not that I’m sick of looking like a 13 year old just yet [It’s a great excuse to be cute although I’m getting very annoyed about how my new housemate is doing cutesy when she’s so much older than me. And she and her boyfriend are just sick. It’s not cute when I think that you should have adult supervision when holding a dinner knife.] but it is (one of) the last year for me to grow (height-wise) and the clothes are just so much better when you actually fit in them unless I get everything bespoke (one day, when I’m swimming in money) or from the kids’ department).
- Be more optimistic? I’m not too sure on this one but definitely for my writing as it is so easy to drift from dark humour and sarcasm to cruel, sad and/or pathetic whining.
- Continue the hunt for Mr. Cupid ( You can run, but you can’t hide)
And that’s a wrap for this year. I hope the lack of posts has not turned off that many readers and to those who are still around, I wish you all a Happy New Year and let’s toast to 2011 being a spectacular year (because everything’s ending the year after next).
Cheers!
Side note : I won’t be able to do my yearly end-of-the-year tarot reading this year as my pack of cards is back home. I might do them when I get back (especially if I find an auspicious date or something. Maybe Lunar New Years... Maybe
Monkey J
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